What Melbourne’s lockdown restrictions mean for you and your partner
As Victoria’s coronavirus cases continue to rise, tough new restrictions have been slapped on millions of Melburnians. Here’s everything you need to know, including whether you can see your partner.
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As Victoria’s new daily coronavirus cases continue to soar past 100, a series of restrictions have been reintroduced across the state.
Here’s everything you need to know before metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire re-enter a six-week Stage 3 lockdown at 11.59pm on Wednesday, July 8.
WHEN DOES LOCKDOWN START AND END?
The new restrictions come into force from 11.59pm Wednesday. They will remain in place for six weeks.
Is my suburb affected?
The new restrictions cover all of metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire (Broadford, Kilmore, Seymour, Tallarook, Pyalong and Wallan). Affected local government areas: Banyule, Bayside, Boroondara, Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Darebin, Frankston, Glen Eira, Greater Dandenong, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Kingston, Knox, Manningham, Maribyrnong, Maroondah, Melbourne, Melton, Monash, Moonee Valley, Mitchell Shire, Moreland, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Whitehorse, Whittlesea, Wyndham, Yarra, Yarra Ranges.
Can I go on holiday?
No. You can leave home: to shop for food and essential goods and services, for care or compassionate reasons, to exercise outdoors or for work or study – if you can’t do it from home.
Can I go to work?
Yes. You are permitted to leave home to attend work if you cannot do so from home.
Will fines apply?
On-the-spot fines of up to $1652 for individuals and up to $9913 for businesses apply for breaches of the rules.
FAMILY
Can I visit relatives?
No. Visits to relatives’ homes are not permitted unless it is deemed essential for care.
Can I visit or check in on elderly relatives who need care?
Yes.
Can I drop my children at childcare — or to someone’s house to have them minded?
Yes. You can use childcare services or take them to the home of friends or family so they can be cared for.
Can I have a small group of family over for dinner or drinks?
If you live in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire you can no longer have visitors to your home, unless it is to deliver care or essential services.
Our kids’ grandparents usually babysit them, can they still come to our house to do this?
You can arrange in-home child minding if you need to leave home for a permitted purpose. Victorians should me mindful that elderly people are particularly vulnerable.
SOCIALISING
My partner and I live separately, am I allowed to visit?
Partners living separately can visit each other at home.
You can travel to or from metropolitan Melbourne or the Shire of Mitchell to visit your partner.
However, if you are visiting your partner in metropolitan Melbourne or the Shire of Mitchell, you must abide by the Stay at Home restrictions.
If you live in metropolitan Melbourne or the Shire of Mitchell and visit your partner in another part of Victoria, you must also abide by the Stay at Home restrictions.
For example, if you live in Altona and you visit your partner at their home in Ballarat, you are not permitted to go out for dinner or a drink in Ballarat.
Can I have a birthday party?
You cannot have visitors to your home so you will need to postpone planned events.
Should I go ahead with my child’s party?
No.
Can my child have a friend over?
No, only for the purpose of child minding if required.
What about a barbecue, an outdoor gathering or a poker game?
This is not allowed.
Can I attend a wedding or funeral?
Yes, this is a permitted reason to leave home. However weddings are limited to five people and funerals 10 people.
GETTING OUT
Will pubs and shops be closed?
Pubs, bars, nightclubs and hotels in restricted areas will need to close. Food and drink businesses located in restricted areas, including restaurants and cafes, can only remain open for takeaway.
Can I stay at a holiday home or second property?
No. You must reside at your principal place of residence.
Can I go to a zoo or museum?
No.
Will markets stay open?
Yes, only for food and drink.
Can I take the kids to the local park?
Yes, but keep at least 1.5m away from other people.
Can my children use play equipment at the local park?
Outdoor playgrounds and skate parks in restricted areas are closed.
Will children’s play centres remain open?
No.
Can I catch a taxi or an Uber?
Yes, but only if leaving home for an essential reason. It is also recommended to sit in the back seat.
Will public transport run as normal?
Yes, for now, but that may change in the future.
EDUCATION
Will schools open as planned for Term Three?
No. For schools in metro Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire, VCE students, Year 10 students who do VCE subjects, and special school students will return to face-to-face learning. School holidays will be extended for a week for other students who attend these schools. Staff will use this week to prepare for a possible return to remote learning from July 20. For schools in regional Victoria, excluding the Mitchell Shire, students return on July 13.
Will free childcare be extended in Victoria?
The federal government’s plan is for the childcare subsidy system to be turned back on nationwide on July 12.
ENTERTAINMENT
Can I go to the movies?
No. Indoor cinemas and drive-in cinemas will be closed.
Can I go out to the pub with friends?
No.
Can I go out for brunch or dinner?
No. Takeaway only will apply in restricted areas.
Can I go to a lesson, class or practice for dancing or singing?
No.
EXERCISE
Can I exercise?
Victorians in lockdown areas - metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire - must exercise and shop as close to home as possible.
You can leave your home to exercise alone, with members of your household or with one other person outside your household. This includes walking, running, bike riding and other types of exercise such as yoga in the park.
Can I play golf?
Yes. Golf, surfing, boating and fishing is allowed subject to conditions.
Can I attend bootcamp or personal training?
You can train outside with members of your household or one other person who is not part of your household. You will not be able to participate in group fitness activities, including boot camps.
Are indoor sport facilities closed?
Gyms, health clubs, class-based fitness, studios, barre, spin and indoor personal training facilities are closed.
Can I go to the beach?
You can go to the beach for exercise only. You can swim at the beach.
Can I participate in community sport?
You cannot participate or attend community sport if you live in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire.
Are outdoor sport facilities closed?
Outdoor sport facilities, including tennis and basketball courts, will be closed.
HOME
We’re selling our house, do the restrictions mean the selling agent can’t do private inspections now?
Inspections can happen by appointment only.
Can tradespeople still come to my house?
Yes. You must ensure physical distancing by keeping 1.5 metres between you and the tradesperson at all times
GROOMING
Can I get a haircut?
Not banned, but consider whether it is essential.
HEALTH
Should I wear a mask?
There is no current requirement to wear a mask. However if you have any symptoms, government advice is to put on a mask (if you have one) when you go to get tested. This will help prevent spreading the infection to others. If you need one, you will be given a mask to wear by your doctor when you are tested.
VICTORIA-NSW BORDER
As of midnight on Tuesday, the NSW-Victoria border will be shut for the first time in a century — with no reopening date confirmed.
Potential penalties include on the spot fines of $1000 and a potential six months jail.
Read our full border explainer, here.
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